Automatic web cutting machine with clamp means for holding cut web portions



Sept. 22, 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK 3,149,517

AUTOMATIC WEB CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllll INVENTOR. JZWN Z ,'e ae m wam J. T. FRYDRYK 3,149,517 AUTOMATIC WEB CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1964 MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 P 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK 3,149,517

AUTOMATIC WEB CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNyENToR fi /m Tim mm ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK 3,149,517

AUTOMATIC WEB CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Jo /,/N 7. FeYzwY/r TTEPD- %4% A 7' TOE/V5 Y Sept. 22, 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK AuToMATIc WEB CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK 3,149,517

AUTOMATIC WEB CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12-, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 llllllllllllllllil;;iiz l1/m ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK AUTOMATIC WEB CU 3,149,517 TTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 haw Sept. 22, 1964 J. T. FRYDRYK 3,149,517 v AUTOMATIC was CUTTING MACHINE WITH CLAMP MEANS FOR HOLDING CUT WEB PORTIONS Original Filed Feb. 12, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 [44 .527 INVENTOR.

52 i 148 Jaw/v 7. Feraerk United States Patent ice 3,149,517 AUEQMATHI WEB CUITHQG MACHINE LAM? MEANS FGR HGLDING CUT EBGRTIGNS .lohn T. Frydryk, Springfield, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to .iohnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, a corporation of New .lersey riginal application Feb. 12, 1959, der. No. 792,741, new Patent No. 3,097,733, dated July 15, 1963. Divided and this appiieation July 16, 1952, Ser. No. 212,756 4 Claims. (Ci. 83-155) The present invention relates to an automatic machine for conveying a plurality of individual pieces of sheet material cut from a strip of said material and presenting them for processing, more particularly to such a machine for processing relatively limp sheet material and a method therefor.

This application is a division of applicants copending application Serial Number 792,741, filed February 12, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,097,733 and is filed pursuant to Rule 147 as a result of a requirement for restriction under Rule 142.

Heretofore, in processing relatively limp sheet material such as a layer or layers of woven diaper cloth, crib sheeting, or the like, it has been customary to cut the material in the desired lengths md then to trim and sew the individual lengths of material by hand to form the desired product.

One of the main problems in automatically processing successive sheets of relatively limp material such as diaper cloth is that the material, not only cannot be pushed, but must be held out flat to retain its proper dimensions. This particularly is true when it is desired to sew the front and rear edges of individual pieces of material successively cut from a longitudinally moving strip of material, for instance.

An additional problem in attempting to sew automatically the edges of a plurality of successively presented pieces of relatively limp material using conventional equipment is that the leading edge of each piece bends back and crumples and tends to provide an uneven stitched edge. In addition, the crumpled material tends to jam and prevent operation of the sewing machine.

It is one of the main objects of this invention to provide a novel method of automatically manufacturing products such as prefolded diapers, crib sheets, and the like, fabricated from relatively limp sheet material, wherein successive pieces of the material are cut from a continuous strip while moving the pieces and the strip continuously linearly at the same speed and in the same direction, and their cut edges are processed while continuing the aforesaid linear motion of said pieces.

An important object of this invention is to provide a novel automatic machine for cutting accurately pieces of sheet material of a definite size from a continuously moving strip, positioning them in fiat on supporting means and advancing the supporting means continuously in a given linear path.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, taken together with the drawings wherein:

PEG. 1 is a partimly cut away side elevational view of a machine for manufacturing diapers according to one embodiment of the invention;

PEG. 2 is a schematic view partly in elevation showing various positions of the work supporting units of FIG. 1 the diaper blanks passing through the machine. This figure also shows a longitudinal cam for determining the height of the blanks;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan View or" the strip of diaper wrrn was Fatented Eiept. 22, 1964 material and the diaper blanks carried by the work supporting units in the various positions shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4- is an enlarged schematic view looking into the end of the cutting drum of FIG. 1 and indicating the timing of certain operations performed on the drum;

PEG. 5 is a similarly enlarged elevational view of one end of the cutting drum;

PEG. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

7 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the cutter sleeve and associated parts of FiGS. 12 and 13 taken along the line 77 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view in perspective of an electric motor and the various drive gears and shafts for the units associated with the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing one of the transverse slots extending across the drum and the relationship of the cutter shaft, the clamp shafts and the drum clamps to the slot;

FIG. 11 is a schematic developed view of the drum cam and the drum cutter track;

FIG. 12 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of one of the cutting units associated with the cutting drum of the preceding fi ures;

FIG. 13 is an end view of the cutting unit of FIG. 12 partly in section and partly in elevation and taken along the line i315 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken lengthwise of the cutting drum along the line 14l4 of P16. 15 to show a portion of the drum and the operation of one of the drum clamp units looking at the side of the unit;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14 looking at the top of the drum clamp unit;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of one of the work supporting tables of the machine of FIGS. 1-3;

PEG. 17 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation showing one of the table clamps of FIG. 16 and taken along the line l7l7 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a similarly enlarged view along the line 18-18 of FIG. 16;

IG. 19 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation taken along the line 19-19 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged inverted view in elevation taken along the line 2'32h of FIG. 16 showing the operation of one of the table clamps;

FIG. 21 is a very greatly enlarged sectional view show ing the relationship between the cutting drum and one of the diaper supporting tables just as the table comes into contact with the leading end of one of the diapers being carried by the drum and just after the drum clamps which held this end or the diaper on the drum were reeased.

Referring to FIGS. l3 of the drawings, there is shown an automatic machine for cutting and sewing the end edges of limp sheet products such as prefolded diapers and the like. The diaper blanks 56 are cut from a continuous strip 51 of diaper material moving in a given linear path at a constant speed after which they me positioned on work supporting tables 52 which support them in the flat and transport them through the various operations performed on the machine.

The strip 51 of diaper material is unwound from a supply roll 53 mounted for rotation on an axle 54 journaled in the upper ends of inclined uprights 55 extending from the base of the rear end of the machine. The strip is drawn from the supply roll along an overhead track 56 to a cutting drum 57 mounted on vertical posts 58 adjacent the front end of the machine. The track 56 is supported by extensions 59 on the inclined uprights 55 at the rear end of the machine and by vertical uprights 61 near the cutting drum 57. A guide roller 62 is provided at the rear end of the overhead track 56 for leading the strip 51 from the supply roll 53 onto the track.

The machine is supported on a pair of spaced longitudinal floor girders 63, one of which is not shown in FIG. 1, and is built around a pair of spaced side plates 64, as shown in FIG. 1, which are mounted upon a pair of fixed supporting shafts 65 and extend the length of the machine. Each of the supporting shafts 65, in turn, is mounted in a shaft support 66 secured to the top of a vertical standard 67 which, in turn, rests upon the top of one of the longitudinal girders 63 at the front of the machine or the beam 68 resting on the longitudinal girders at the rear of the machine. Only one of the side plates 64 is shown in FIG. 1, since the other is spaced widthwise of the machine directly behind it.

The side plates 64 act as tracks for a number of the tables 52, or Work supporting units, which are spaced longitudinally and connected in tandem with one another to form a continuous chain of tables. The tables are adapted for continuous motion in a top pass directly under the cutting drum 57 and along the tops of the side plates 64, then around one end of the plates and into a bottom pass upside down along the bottoms of the side plates until they reach the other end of the machine and then pass up around the ends of the plates and under the cutting drum 57 to repeat the aforesaid motion. During this motion, the chain of tables is driven through connections to continuous drive chains in a manner shown and described in detail in applicants copending parent application Serial No. 792,741.

7 The strip 51 is clamped to the cutting drum 57 and pulled around the drum. During the time it moves with the drum, the strip is cut into diaper blanks 50 by cut- .ters 69, shown in FIG. 12 but not in FIG. 1, associated with the drum. Each of the diaper blanks 59 is positioned on one of the tables 52 just as the table passes under the drum 57 in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter. The surface of the drum 57 and the tables 52 both move in the same direction at the same linear speed, and the transfer is accomplished without interfering with this motion. The tables supporting the blanks continue forward at the same speed under the guidance of the side plates 64 and the longitudinal cam 71 shown in FIG. 2. Each of the tables 52 is secured to a vertical shaft 72, shown in FIG. 16, which rests on the 7 top of the cam 71 during the top pass of the tables over the side plates 64. The cam 71 has a rise 71:? which lifts each succeeding table 52 slightly, shortly after it leaves the drum 57, as shown in FIG. 2. The raised tables then are rotated 90 while being moved forward at the same linear speed so that the cut edges 73 of the diaper blanks 50 now extend in the direction of the linear travel of the tables 52, as shown schematically in FIG. 3. As the tables 52 are turned, table clamps 70, shown in P16. 16 but not shown in FIGS. 1-3, are actuated in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter to hold the blanks St) on the tables. The tables 52 continue to move linearly in the same path at the same linear speed to present one of the edges 73'of each of the diaper blanks 59 to a sewing machine, 74 mounted at one side of the machine not far from the cutting drum 57. The machine is mounted on a foundation 75 which extends upwardly fi'om the beam 68. The sewing machine 74 is of a type which is especially adapted to sew the edges of a piece of goods and is provided with a novel feeding device for feeding the edge of the diaper into and through the machine.

This device is shown and described in detail in applicants copending divisional application, Serial Number 212,755. The speed of the feeding device corresponds to the linear speed ofthe diaper edge 73, and the sewing speed of the machine is adjusted accordingly. A speed controller 76 geared to the sewing machine 74 and connected to the same driving means as the sewing machine 74 is provided for adjusting feeding speed with respect to sewing speed. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 21, the cut edges 73 of the diaper blank 50 overlap the ends of the tables 52 to a certain extent so that the machine may stitch the edges 73 without contacting the ends of the tables, The sewing machine '74 operates continuously so that it makes a continuous stitch. When a diaper is passing through the machine 74, of course this stitch becomes a part of the diaper. However, a stitch chain or tail, not shown, is produced between adjacent diapers passing through the machine. A tail cutting unit 78 is provided for cutting this chain or strip from the diapers. The unit 78 is located just following the sewing machine 74 and operates while the diapers still are turned 90 to their linear direction of travel.

Just after passing through the tail cutting unit 78, the tables 52 again are turned 90 in the same angular direction with the result that the diapers again extend in the direction of travel, but with their ends reversed. The tables 52 then are rotated an additional 90 so as to present the opposite end edge 73 of the diapers at the same side of the machine, as shown in FIG. 3. This occurs just before the diapers 50 reach a second sewing unit. This unit is identical with that described in connection with the first sewing machine 74 and consists of a sewing machine 74a, a speed controller 76a, and a tail cutter 78a which operate as just described in connection with the sewing machine 74, the speed controller 76 and the tail cutter 7 8.

The tables 52 pass around the side plates 64 at the rear end R of the machine and continue their travel upside down with the diapers normal to their path until they reach a point near the front end P of the machine where the tables again are rotated 90 in the same angular direction to assume their original posit-ion. As the tables are rotated at this point, the table clamps 70 are released and the diapers are dropped down upon a conveyor 79 which transports them away from the machine.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings, the cutting drum 57 comprises a pair of end plates or discs 81 secured to the opposite ends of a metal cylinder. The cylinder consists of three 120 segments 82. The segments 82 actually cover slightly less than 120 of the surface of the cylinder, since they are arranged so that they define between them three cutter slots 83, each extendin widthwise of the cylinder and spaced on 120 centers from one another. One of these slots 83 is shown in detail in FIG. 10. The drum 57 is mounted for rotation upon a fixed axle 84 which, in turn, is mounted on top of the aforesaid vertical posts 58 by a clamping device 85 which fits around the axle 84 and is bolted to the posts 58. Each of the end plates 81 is secured to a bushing 86 mounted for rotation on the fixed axle 84. A drive gear 87 integral with one end of one of the bushings 86 is provided for driving the drum 57. The drive gear 87 meshes with a suitable driving mechanism such as will be described hereinafter for rotating the drum 57 and its associated parts on the axle 84.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 5-9 and 10-15, a ravelling cutter 69 and four drum clamps 38 are associated with each of the three cutter slots 33 and, of course, rotate with the slots and the drum. There is a pair of cutter clamps 83 for each slot at each end of the drum 57, one clamp on each side of the slot. To avoid unnecessary duplication, only the clamps 88 for one slot at one end of the drum 57 are shown and described, since they are duplicated at each end of each of the slots 83.

Each of the cutters 69 is in the form of an electrically driven circular knife mounted for rotation in a cutter unit which, in turn, is adapted for axial movement on the drum 57 while it rotates therewith. Each cutter 69 is mounted in the end of an arm 89 extending from an electric motor 91. The motor 91 is mounted in a cradle 92 integral with the top of a vertical standard 93 extending upwardly from a hollow cutter sleeve 94. The sleeve defines a square opening 95 which extends through the sleeve lengthwise thereof. Each of the cutter units is mounted for motion amally of the drum 57 on a square shaft 96 which fits into the square longitudinal opening 95 in the sleeve 94 and is secured at each of its ends to one of the drum discs 81 by suitable means. Since the square opening 95 in the cutter sleeve fits the square shaft 3'6, the cutter unit is keyed to the shaft 96 for motion with respect thereto only in the direction of the length of the shaft.

As shown in FIGS. 10, 12, and 13, each of the cutter shafts 96 is positioned radially below, or inwardly, of its corresponding cutter slot 83 so that the cutter sleeves 94 travel across the drum 57 just inside the drum cylinder segments 82. As shown most clearly in FIG. 13, the vertical standard 93 is necked down in width somewhat where it passes through the slot 83 so as to minimize the width of the slot. A cam follower roller 97 for moving the cutter unit transversely of the dru m57 is secured in a boss 93 at the bottom of each of the cutter sleeves 94. the cutter unit transversely of the drum 57 is secured in each turn of the drum. The cutter 6? first passes from one side of the drum to the other in its corresponding cutter slot 33 to cut through the strip and then returns to the first side of the drum and remains there until another cut is initiated. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the motion of the cutting unit across the drum occurs during a relatively small segment of the drums rotation, say 60"; and the cutting and return motions of the cutter unit preferably are spaced about 180 from one another. Thus, the cutter itself need only be turning in the cutter arm during a small portion of the travel of the drum. Intermittent cutter operation is achieved by supplying power intermittently to the cutter motor 91 by means such as described below. The cutter motor 91 is connected to brushes 101 mounted in an insulated arm 102 bolted to one side of the cutter sleeve 94, as shown most clearly in FIG. 7. The brushes 191, in turn, ride in contact with bus bars 193 which extend the length of the slot and are secured in opposite legs 104 of a C- shaped track 195 attached at its ends to the drum discs 31. The bus bars 193 are connected through insulating inserts 106 to power segments 1197 exposed on the outer face of one of the drum discs 81. The segments 197 also are insulated from the discs 81 and extend angularly' an amount corresponding with that portion of the drums rotation during which it is desired to operate the corresponding cutter 69. As shown in FIG. 5, three pairs of segments 197 are provided, one for each of the cutter units. As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of electric brushes 108 connected to a suitable power source, not shown, are positioned to ride in contact with the outside of the disc. 81 containing the power segments 197 and in contact with the segments 1417 themselves as they pass by the brushes. Thus, poweris supplied intermittently to the cutters 69 whenever the brushes 198 are in contact with one of the pairs of power segments 197.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 10, 14, and 15, the cutter clamps 823 each are in the form of an arm which may be shaped from a piece of heavy metal wire or the like. The wire is bent 90 to provide a straight arm portion IE9 and a rear axle portion 111 so that it may be mounted at itsrear end in such a way that its tip may be pressed down upon or lifted off a portion of one of the diaper blanks 553 merely by rotating its rear axle portion 11 The axle portion 111 is mounted for rotation in a boss 112 extending upwardly from a clamp sleeve 113. The clamp sleeve 113, like the cutter sleeve @4, contains a square opening extending lengthwise of the sleeve 113 and is fittedover a square clamp shaft 115 for axial movement along the shaft. Again, the clamp shaft 115 fits in the square opening 11- in the clamp sleeve 113 in such a way as to prevent motion of the sleeve with respect to the shaft in any direction except longitudinally of the shaft. A pair of clamps 88, only one of which is shown in the drawings, are mounted on their respective sleeves 113 for slidable movement along each of the clamp shafts 115. The sleeves 113 on each of the clamp shafts are held apart and urged toward the discs 31 at the end of the drum 57 by means such as a compression spring 116 pressin against the inner face of each of the sleeves.

The end of the axle portion 111 of each of the clamps, after it passes through the boss 112, is fixed to a control arm 117 which, in turn, is slidably connected to a link 1113 which is resiliently mounted in the adjacent drum disc 31. Movement of the end of the control arm 117 causes the axle portion 111 of the clamp to rotate in the boss 112 to raise or lower the arm portion 1119 of the clamp. The end of the control arm 117 is urged inwardly or" the sleeve 113 by a tension spring 119 connecting the control arm to the inner end of the sleeve 11*. Thus, the outer end of the arm portion 1% of the clamp normally is held upwardly, as shown in full in FIGS. 14 and 15, by the action of this spring 119.

The control arm 117 terminates in a device 121 which is adapted to ride in a slot 122. extendin longitudinally of the link 118. The link 118, in turn, is spring mounted, but in a relatively fixed position in the disc 31 on a. mounting bolt 123 screwed into the end of the link. Cornpression springs 12 i and 125 between the link 113 and the disc 31 and the disc 81 and a collar 125 at the outer end of the mounting bolt 123, respectively, provide a resilient mounting for the link. if the clamp sleeve 113 is caused to move inwardly of the disc 81 away from the position shown in full in F163. 14 and 15, the end of the control arm 117 will be held by the link 11%. Further inward motion of the sleeve can only occur if the control arm 117 rotates upwardly about the axle portion 111 of the clamp, thereby causing the end of the arm portion Hi9 thereof to move downwardly. As shown in phantom in FIG. 14, this motion occurs until the arm 1&9 of the clamp 88 is in a horizontal position and clamping the strip 51 or one of the diaper blanks 5i? on the drum 57.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10-15, a cutter track 127 and a pair of identical but oppositely facing drum cams 128 are mounted on a sleeve 129 secured to the fixed shaft 34- inside of the drum. The cutter track 127 is made up of a track guide, or strip, 13%?" on one side of the track and one of the drum cams 123 on the other side of the track, except in the inclined sections 13 and 132 where the track crosses the drum. The inclined sec tion 131 guides the cutter during its cutting stroke, and the section 132 returns the cutter to the first side of the drum. The sections 131 and 132 are made up of a pair of spaced strips 136 which are mounted on supporting arms 133 which are fixed to the sleeve 129. The upper ends of each of the supporting arms 133 terminate in a spacer plate 134 which holds the spaced strips 13% which make up the track. The strips 131 may be mounted similarly where they co-operate with the drum cams 12-8 to form the track 127. The strips 13% are secured to the spacer plates 13% by means of screws 136 or the like, as shown in F16. 12.

Each or" the drum cams 123 is in the form of a pair of flanged circular plates 137 fixed to opposite ends of the sleeve 12 on the axle 84- just inside of the drum discs 81. Each of the oppositely facing drum cams 128 operates the clamps 83 at one end of the drum 57 and controls the cutter units when they are at that end of the drum. The operation of the drum clamps 88 will be described in connection with the drum cam 128 at only one end of the drum, since the halves operate in the same way at each end or" the d um.

Each of the drum cams 123 is in the form of an an nular flange which extends axially inwardly from one of the plates 137 at one end of the drum 57. The operation of the cam 12% is determined by its shape in a direction axially of the drum, or its axial height. The shape of the '3 cam is converted to motion of the drum clamp sleeves through a roller follower 139 in contact with the cam 12% and mounted to rotate in a 100i 141 extending downwardly from the outer end of each of the sleeves. Considering the operation of the units at one end of one of the cutter slots 83, as the drum rotates, the clamp cam follower 13? for the clamp leading the slot 85 and which has been riding along a depressed portion 142 of the drum cam reaches a rise 143 in the cam which causes the clamping unit to move inwardly along its shaft and operate to clamp the strip extending around the drum 57. Next, the drum clamp immediately following the slot operates on the drum cam in the same way as the first clamp so that the clamps on each side of the slot 33 are holding the strip. Then, after the clamps 83 at both ends of the slot 83 have moved into clamping position, the cutter follower 97, which also has been riding along the drum cam radially inwardly of the path of the clamp followers, enters one end of the inclined track section 131 and begins its movement across the drum. The clamps 88 at each end of the slot 83 remain in clamping position after the cutter 69 has completed its traverse and until it is time to position one of the diaper blanks 51) on one of the tables 52 passing under the drum 57.

As shown in FIG. 10, the drum cam 12% and the track guides, or strips, 136 are concentric and positioned so as to be radially overlapping. However, the drum cam 12% is considerably thicker than the strip or strips 139 and the strips 130 are positioned radially at the inner edge of the cam 128. The cutter followers 97 are positioned radially at the level of the strips 13% and nwardly of the drum clamp cam followers 139, and ride in the I track formed by the cam 12% and the adjacent strip 130 or between the two strips 13% where the track traverses the drum 57. The clamp cam followers 13% are positioned radially at the level of the upper half of the drum cam 128 and radially outwardly of the followers 97 so as to clear the strips 13%. Thus, the drum clamp cam followers 139 and thier respective clamps 8% are free to move axially of the drum independently of the cutter track 127.

Each of the 120 cylinder segments 82 of the drum is covered with a roughened layer of material 144, such as a sponge rubber sheet, so as to present a relatively rough resilicntsurface between the slots. The resilient layer facilitates clamping the continuous strip of material and the diaper blanks 59 on the drum '7 and, due to its roughened surface, also tends to prevent the material from slipping on the drum, particularly if the material is a diaper cloth which itself has a relatively open porous structure. In addition, the resilient layer assists in transferring blanks from the drum 57 to the tables 52 as will be described hereinafter.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 11, the rise 143 in the drum cams 128 is positioned so that each of the drum clamps 38 is moved to its clamping position just after the clamp passes the vertical centerline of the drum at the top of the drum. This position is designated X in FIGS. 4 and 11. The drum clamps remain in their clamping positions until just after the clamps pass the vertical centeriine of the drum at the bottom of the drum or at Y in FIGS; 4 and 11. Thus, that portion of the rotation of the drum during which the clamps hold the strips or the blanks on the drum may be represented by the area to the left of the line XY in FIG. 4 and the distance between X and Y in FIG. 11.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 11, the cutter follower 97 begins its traverse across the drum 57 at the point M in the rotation of the drum surface and continues through the arc MN during rotation of the drum through the angle A; V i

As shown in FIG. 11, the cutter enters one edge of the strip 51 at the point C; in the rotation of the drum. Cutting continues until the point C in the rotation of the drum is reached and the cutterleaves the strip. At the tables.

8 point C a new diaper blank 50 is completely severed from the strip 51. It should be noted that before the blank is completely out from the strip the clamps leading the next slot have moved into clamping position at X so that there are always at least two pairs of clamps pulling the strip around the drum. Following the point N in the rotation of the drum, the cutter follower 97 follows the drum cam 128 at that end of the drum until it reaches the point 0 in the rotation of the drum surface when it begins its return traverse to its starting position at the other end of the drum. This traverse is completed at the point P in the rotation of the drum.

In FIG. 11, only one cutter follower 97 and one clamp follower 139 have been shown for the sake of clarity to illustrate the operation of the cutter track 127 and the drum cams 128. It should be remembered that there are three cutters 69 and therefore three cutter followers 97 spaced from one another around the drum surface; and there are two pairs of drum clamps 88 and therefore two pairs of drum clamp followers 139, spaced one pair on each side of each slot 83 which, in turn, are on the same 120 centers spaced around the drum surface as are the drum cutters themselves.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 21, the tables 52 successively pass under the drum 57 in a path substantially parallel to a tangent to the surface of the bottom of the cylinder 57 and move in the same direction as the periphery of the cylinder and at the same linear speed. As shown in FIG. 21, the motion of the tables 52 and the operation of the drum 57 are correlated so that the clamps 38 holding the front edges of each piece of material arrive at the bottom of the vertical centerline of the rum just before the leading end 146 of one of the tables 52. The table 52 sandwiches the diaper blank 50 between its top surface and the resilient layer 144 on the outer surface of the cylinder section 82 of the drum. Preferably, the table presses the diaper into the resilient material so that the diaper 50 is positively held between the top of the table 52 and the resilient layer 144. Just after the leading end 145 of the blank and the leading end 146 of the table make contact in this manner, the drum clamps 88 at this end of the blank 50 reach the point Y where they are released as the clamp cam followers 139 move outwardly on the drum cams 128. The movement of the drum 57 and the table 52 forming the sandwich with the drum continues with the diaper blank 50 being rolled out onto the table by the co-operative movement of the drum and the table as the blank is held in the aforesaid sandwich. Then, just after the rear end of the table 52 passes the point Y, the drum clamps 88 at the rear edge of the blank 50 also reach the point Y and are released, as shown schematically in FIG. 4. Thus, the blank 50 is positively positioned on the table 52, since it was held either by the clamps 88 on the drum or by the sandwich formed between the table 52 and the drum 57 all during the transfer operation. Also, as shown in FIG. 21, a roughened strip 147 of material is provided at each end of the table 52 extending transversely thereof to minimizethe likelihood of the blank 50 shifting on the table. The porous woven material of the blank is held against shifting by the roughened surface of the strips 147.

The tables 52 each ar identical and comprise a plate 148 of metal or a similar rigid material which is slightly rectangular in shape. The tables pass under the drum in such a way that the length of the rectangle extends lengthwise of the direction of travel of the tables and the drum surface. The width of the diaper blanks 5% is determined by the width of the strip 51 and their length by the distance between the cuts made on the drum 57.' It follows that the blanks 50 are positioned lengthwise on the tables 52. or with their lengths extending lengthwise of the the tables so that the blanks overlap the front and rear ends of the tables by a predetermined amount. For in- The diaper blanks 50 are somewhat longer than a stance, to make a diaper blank about 21 inches long going into the sewing machine 74, the drum 57 is about 63 inches in circumference at the outer surface of the resilient layer 144; and the table 52 may be about 18 /2 inches long so as to provide an overlap of about an inch or an inch and a quarter at each end of the table. Normally, the diaper blanks 50 are slightly narrower in width than the table. For instance, the blanks may be about 14 inches wide when the tables are approximately 15 inches wide.

As shown in FIGS. 16-20, a table clamp 70 is provided at each corner of the table. Each clamp may be formed from a bent metal wire and is more or less C-shaped, with one leg of the C acting as an axle 149 for pivotal motion of the clamp and the other leg acting as a clamping bar 151 for holding the diaper St on the table. In FIG. 16, the clamps 79 are shown in full in their unclamped position and in phantom in their clamped positions.

The table 52 is secured to the vertical shaft 72 which, in turn, is caused to rotate at the appropriate time by means which will be described more fully hereinafter in such a way that it turns the table a predetermined angle, such as 90, with respect to its original position. The shaft 72 extends through a table cam 152 which, in turn, moves linearly with the table but is fixed against rotative movement therewith. The table cam 152 is part of the carriage unit which is shown and described more fully in applicants copending application Serial No. 792,741. Each of the clamps 70 is mounted in an inclined bushing 153 secured at an angle to an edge portion of the underside of the table. A portion 154 of larger diameter at the inner end of each clamp 70 is connected to a transverse shaft 155 which connects the clamps at each end of the table. The clamps 70 are connected to the shafts 155 by flexible spring connectors 156, and the shafts 155 are mounted for rotation in similar bushings 157 attached to the underside of the table. The bushing 157 at one end of each of the shafts 155 is slit to provide a housing for a gear 158 which is keyed to the shaft 155. Riding underneath each of the gears 158 and meshing therewith is a separate rack 159 which slides along the underside of the bottom of the table. The racks 159 are connected to opposite ends of a cam follower rocker arm 161 by pins 162 which extend from a link 163 at the end of the rack into a hole at each end of the rocker arm 161. The rocker arm is mounted on a stub shaft 164 which is tapped into the table and extends downwardly therefrom. The stub shaft 164 may be in the form of a screw having a head which holds the rocker arm 161 against the bottom of the table. A cam follower 165 for the table cam 152 is mounted on a leg 166 extending from one side of the rocker arm 161, and a tension spring 157 secured to the bottom of the table is attached to the adjacent end of the rocker arm 161 so that the cam follower 165 normally is urged into contact with the table cam 152. The table cam 152 is almost circular in shape but has one depression 168 which corresponds with the unclamped position of the table clamps 70. If the table 52 is turned with respect to the table cam 152 so that the cam follower 165 can enter the depression 158, it will do so since it is urged in that direction by the tension spring 167. This will move both of the racks 159 inwardly of the shafts 155 to rotate each of the clamps 70 into their unclamped position. This position of the table cam 152 with respect to the cam follower 165 corresponds to the position of the table as it passes underneath the cutting drum 57. As the table 52 makes the first 90 turn preceding the first sewing machine 74, it turns with respect to the table cam 152; and the follower 165 rises onto the circular portion of the cam 152 and moves the racks 159 so as to rotate the table clamps 70 to their clamping position, as shown in phantom in FIGS. 16-20. The clamps remain in this position until the tables again are rotated to their original positions at the underside of the front end of the machine just before they again approach the cutting drum.

Roughened portions or prongs, not shown, may be provided on the underside of the clamps adjacent their ends to assist in holding the diapers 50 more firmly in position on the tables 52 during processing.

The operation of the various parts of the machine of this invention may be timed with respect to one another by various conventional devices and techniques. For instance, driving mechanisms are shown in FIG. 9 wherein all of the parts are driven from a single motor 27%. The motor drives a belt 271 which, in turn, drives an intermediate shaft 272 through pulleys 273 and 274 on the motor shaft and the intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft 272 drives a pair of secondary shafts 275 and 276 through two more belts 277 and 273 connected to the intermediate shaft 272 through pulleys 279 and 281 on the intermediate shaft and pulleys 282 and 283 on the secondary shafts 275 and 276. The secondary shaft 275 drives an idler shaft 234 which, in turn, drives the main drive shaft 327 for the two continuous carriage unit drive chains, not shown. This is accomplished through a series of meshing gears, 285 on the shaft 275, 236 and 287 on the idler shaft 284, and 2.38 on the drive shaft 397. Sprocket wheels, not shown, are mounted on the drive chain shaft 597 for driving the chains 178. A drum drive shaft 235 is driven through another idler shaft 2% from the drive shaft 357 through a belt 292 passing around a pair of pulleys 293 and 294 mounted on the main drive shaft 397 and the idler shaft 291, respectively, and a gear 295 on the idler meshing with a gear 296 on the drum drive shaft. The secondary shaft 276 drives the first sewing machine drive shaft 297 and the first speed regulating unit drive shaft 298, as well as a tertiary shaft 299. This is accomplished through a series of pulleys and belts connecting the respective shafts. The tertiary drive shaft drives power shafts 3121 and 392 for the second sewing machine and the second speed regulating unit, respectively, through a pair of belts passing over pulleys secured to the respective shafts. The size and arrangement of pulleys and gears is designed to provide the desired speed relationships between the various parts. Where regulation is desirable as for the sewing machine feeding devices, additional speed regulators are provided. Other parts of the machine which are not directly connected to the above-described driving arrangement are operated by cams or other devices which are actuated by the movement of parts driven from one of the connected mechanisms in a manner described hereinbefore.

Having now described the invention in specific detail and exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that innumerable variations, modifications, applications, and extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic machine for cutting pieces of relatively limp material from a continuous strip and conveying them to a subsequent processing step which comprises a rotatable cutting cylinder carrying at least one cutter movable axially of the cylinder and adapted to cut through a strip of material passing circumferentially around the cylinder fron edge to edge of the strip to sever successive pieces of material from the strip as the cylinder rotates, front and rear clamping means clamping front and rear edge portions respectively of each of the pieces of material to the cylinder during and after the aforesaid cutting operation, a plurality of spaced individual work supporting tables moving underneath said cylinder in the same direction as the periphery of said cy inder and at approximately the same linear speed in a path substantially parallel to a tangent to the surface of said cylinder, and means responsive to the relative rotative position of the cylinder for actuating said front clamping means to release the front end of each piece of material to allow it to rest upon the front end of one of the tables approximately wh n the front edge of the piece passes under the midpoint of the bottom of said cylinder and for actuating said rear clamping means holding the same piece of material to release the rear end of said piece to allow it to rest upon the rear end of the same table approximately when the rear end of this piece of material reaches the midpoint of the bottom of said cylinder, whereby each of said pieces of material is positioned successively on a separate one of said tables.

2. An automatic machine for cutting pieces of relatively limp material from a continuous strip and conveying them to a subsequent step according to claim 1, which further comprises a layer of resilient material passing around the cylinder between the cylinder and the strip, said tables and said layer sandwiching the cut pieces of material between them at the bottom of the cylinder in such a way as to compress said layer slightly and grip the pieces of material between the tables and the layer for positioning the pieces of material on the tables.

3. An automatic machine for cutting pieces of relatively limp material from a continuous strip and conveying them to a subsequent step according to claim 1, which further comprises a layer of resilient material passing around the cylinder between the cylinder and the strip, the outer surface of said resilient material being relatively rough to assist in holding the relatively limp material on the cylinder.

4. An automatic machine for cutting pieces of relatively limp material from a continuous strip and conveying them to a subsequent processing step which comprises a rotatable cutting cylinder carrying a plurality of cutters movable axially of the cylinder and adapted to cut through a strip of material passing circumferentially around the cylinder from edge to edge of the strip to sever successive pieces of material from the strip as the said cylinder, said tables being approximately commensurate in area with said out pieces of material, means responsive to the relative rotative position of the cylinder for actuating said front clamping means to release the front end of each piece to allow it to rest upon the front end of one of the tables approximately when the front edge of the piece passes under the midpoint of the bottom of said cylinder and for actuating said rear clamping means holding the same piece of material to release the rear end of said piece to allow it to rest upon the rear end of the same table approximately when the rear end of this piece of material reaches the midpoint of the bottom of said cylinder, whereby each of said pieces of material is positioned successively on a separate one of said tables, and means on said tables for preventing the shifting of said pieces of material thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stobb -Nov. 14, 1961 UNITED s'm'tts PATENT OFFlCE CERTIFICATE 6F CGR Q'HQN Patent N09 s lue sir September 22 1964 John Frydryk It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 lines 22 and 23 strike out the cutter unit transversely of the drum 5? is secured in each turn of the drum and insert instead the following as a new paragraph Each cutter unit traverses the drum -57 twice during each turn of the drum., column 'Z line 39 for thier" read their Signed and sealed this 9th day of February 1965 (SEAL) Altest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J, BRENNER Attesting Officer 7 Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR CUTTING PIECES OF RELATIVELY LIMP MATERIAL FROM A CONTINUOUS STRIP AND CONVEYING THEM TO A SUBSEQUENT PROCESSING STEP WHICH COMPRISES A ROTATABLE CUTTING CYLINDER CARRYING AT LEAST ONE CUTTER MOVABLE AXIALLY OF THE CYLINDER AND ADAPTED TO CUT THROUGH A STRIP OF MATERIAL PASSING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND THE CYLINDER FROM EDGE TO EDGE OF THE STRIP TO SEVER SUCCESSIVE PIECES OF MATERIAL FROM THE STRIP AS THE CYLINDER ROTATES, FRONT AND REAR CLAMPING MEANS CLAMPING FRONT AND REAR EDGE PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY OF EACH OF THE PIECES OF MATERIAL TO THE CYLINDER DURING AND AFTER THE AFORESAID CUTING OPERATION, A PLURALITY OF SPACED INDIVIDUAL WORK SUPPORTING TABLES MOVING UNDERNEATH SAID CYLINDER IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CYLINDER AND AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME LINEAR SPEED IN A PATH SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO A TANGENT TO THE SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDER, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE RELATIVE ROTATIVE POSITION OF THE CYLINDER FOR ACTUATING SAID FRONT CLAMPING MEANS TO RELEASE THE FRONT END OF SAID PIECE OF MATERIAL TO ALLOW IT TO REST UPON THE FRONT END OF ONE OF THE TABLES APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE FRONT EDGE OF THE PIECE PASSES UNDER THE MIDPOINT OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID CYLINDER AND FOR ACTUATING SAID REAR CLAMPING MEANS HOLDING THE SAME PIECE OF MATERIAL TO RELEASE THE REAR END OF SAID PIECE TO ALLOW IT TO REST UPON THE REAR END OF THE SAME TABLE APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE REAR END OF THIS PIECE OF MATERIAL REACHES THE MIDPOINT OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID CYLINDER, WHEREBY EACH OF SAID PIECES OF MATERIAL IS POSITIONED SUCCESSIVELY ON A SEPARETE ONE OF SAID TABLES. 